American rock band The Maine has been around for quite a long time, having released a total of nine studio albums since their formation in 2007. The five-piece consists of lead singer John O’Callaghan, guitarists Jared Monaco and Kennedy Brock, bassist Garrett Nickelsen, and drummer Patrick Kirch. All of the five men have been around since the start. On the 25th of February, they released their latest single, ‘Quiet Part Loud’.
The three-minute-long track opens right away with the first verse, the vocals of lead singer John O’Callaghan tearing through the instruments. In the first few seconds, only a soft piano can be heard, but it’s quickly joined by guitars and drums. O’Callaghan describes how he wants to let his lover know how he feels, but can’t find the words. “You don’t seem to know ‘cause my voice is gone, so how could you know that my heart keeps calling?” he sings in this first verse.
The verse is quickly followed by the chorus, where O’Callaghan describes his lover’s eyes as “a song that I’m hearing now”. Essentially, the singer struggles to express his emotions, and so the only way he knows how to do so is by putting it in a love song. It’s quite adorable, set against soft indie rock instrumentals. A small instrumental break, featuring high-pitched adlibs, can be heard before the song rolls into its second verse. The instrumentals slow down at its start, but quicken gradually as the song moves into its second and final chorus. “If my words don’t say the quiet part out loud,” O’Callaghan sings again, which of course refers to the track’s title.
The final minute of the song is almost entirely instrumental. This arrangement of drums and guitars would fit perfectly in a live show. In the background, O’Callaghan can be heard screaming out, “Are you hearing it now?”, desperately hoping the person he’s talking to understands what he’s trying to convey. After this climactic breakdown, the song slowly fades out.
‘Quiet Part Loud’ is an energetic song about needing to find a way to let someone know you love them, featuring lovely guitar riffs, banging drums, and raw vocals through which the honesty of the words can be heard. This song fits perfectly in The Maine’s already existing discography and will surely be loved by their hugely loyal fanbase, whom they’ve dubbed the 8123 family. The fans don’t have to wait long for more music because ‘Quiet Part Loud’ is part of their upcoming album Joy Next Door, which will be released on April 10th.
Written by: Mandy Huibregtsen
Edited by: Sabine de Graaf
